Dartmouth Completes $1.3 Billion Campaign

Effort funded faculty and student priorities from 2002 to 2009

Dartmouth has completed a seven-year, $1.3 billion fundraising campaign that has moved the curriculum into emerging fields of study, increased student scholarships, and provided faculty and students with the facilities and tools to do their best work. A total of 65,174 alumni, parents, friends, faculty, students, staff, and organizations participated in the Campaign for the Dartmouth Experience, including 70 percent of alumni.

“The campaign was an investment in the enduring attributes of Dartmouth that attracted me to this place—a personalized educational experience, commitment to providing all students the means to aspire to a Dartmouth education, and an experience that equips students with the ability to develop expertise throughout their lives and contribute to the betterment of society,” says President Jim Yong Kim.

Ed Haldeman ’70, chair of the Board of Trustees, says, “We celebrate the many ways Dartmouth has been enhanced by our generous donors in this campaign and recognize that these achievements do not reverse the negative impact of our endowment losses.”

Where the money went

• $407.3 million to endowments designated by donors for a specific purpose that will be supported by those invested dollars for generations. These include $139.7 million in financial aid, 35 new professorships, and programs across the institution.
• $530.8 million in current-use dollars, including gifts designated for specific programs or purposes and unrestricted funds spent in the year they were received, from 2002 to 2009.
• $344.7 million toward the cost of constructing 19 state-of-the-art facilities to meet academic, residential, and athletic needs.

Leadership and background

The institution-wide campaign began July 1, 2002, launched publicly November 13, 2004, and closed as planned on December 31, 2009. It was the largest fundraising effort in Dartmouth’s history and supported the strategic goals of President Emeritus James Wright.

Brad Evans ’64; Peter Fahey ’68, Thayer ’70; and Steve Mandel ’78 co-chaired the campaign and led the 20-member Campaign Executive Committee. Russ Carson ’65 was a co-chair during the nucleus phase. Co-chairs of the professional schools’ campaigns were:

• Peter Fahey, Al Griggs, and the late Peter Williamson ’58 (Dartmouth Medical School and DHMC)
• Charles Nearburg ’72, Thayer ’74 (Thayer School of Engineering)
• Bill Achtmeyer, Tuck ’81; the late Jim Allwin, Tuck ’76; and Paul Raether, Tuck ’73 (Tuck School of Business)

Dozens of alumni and parents played crucial volunteer roles raising annual gifts.